Category: Prohibition

Prohibition serves as an excellent example of a public policy based on hopes and desires rather than on logic and common sense. Every proposed policy should always be examined in terms of its possible unintended outcomes and every existing policy should be examined an evaluated in terms of its effectiveness and absence of undesirable unintended consequences.

Women and Temperance: Essential for Establishing Prohibition

women and temperance

Women and temperance were closely linked. The temperance movement relied heavily on their enthusiastic support. And they were essential to the establishment of National Prohibition (1920-1933).                                 OVERVIEW I.    Martha Washingtonians II.   Daughters of Temperance III.  Woman’s New …

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The Sheppard Bone-Dry Act: DC Prohibition Act

Sheppard Bone-Dry Act

The Sheppard Bone-Dry Act was also called the DC Prohibition Act. Officially, it was this. “An Act to prevent the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors in the District of Columbia and for other purposes.” The “for other purposes” refers to exceptions, penalties, and other matters. It was sponsored by Sen. Morris Sheppard in early …

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Morris Sheppard and Prohibition: “The Driest of the Dry”

Morris Sheppard and prohibition

John Morris Sheppard and prohibition were very closely linked. Sheppard became an ardent advocate of banning alcohol beverage sales. And he did so fairly early in his political career. He was in Congress from 1901 until his death in 1941. Sheppard served first as a representative and then as a senator. He was a progressive …

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Purley Baker (Prohibition Leader & Anti-Saloon League Head)

Anti-Saloon League

Purley Baker was a leading temperance and Prohibition leader. He was born in Ohio in 1858 and died during National Prohibition (1920-1933) in 1924. Prohibition was part of the Progressive Movement. Anti-Saloon League Rev. Baker was an ordained Methodist minister. He became well-known for strongly opposing alcohol and saloons. Perhaps because of that fact, Howard …

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Prohibition and Progressives: Progressives Promoted Prohibition

Prohibition and Progressives were closely connected. In fact, the Progressive Movement strongly promoted prohibition. The Progrssive Era was between about 1890 and 1920. It was a reaction to social problems, They thought these were caused by industrialization, political corruption, and other developments. Progressives wanted to create an ideal society. Their approach was to reduce individualism …

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Death Penalty for DWI Offenders: Neo-Prohibitionist

A current supporter of the neo-prohibition movement publicly advocates the death penalty for DWI offenders. He clearly advocates increased penalties. Death Penalty for DWI Offenders The DEATH PENALTY for drunks that kill innocent people will probably NOT be a deterrent, BUT, given a few years, we can kill enough drunks, that it might be half …

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Social History of Alcohol in America: Discover Its Ironies

prohibition supported

The Spirits of America. A Social History of Alcohol chronicles the role of alcohol in US life and culture. It does so from the earliest Colonial period. Learn about colorful characters. They range greatly. There’s the well-known hatchet-wielding Carry Nation. And there’s little- known Man in the Green Hat. See how and why alcohol changed from …

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Prohibition Dictionary and Glossary of Prohibition Words.

fake ID cards

This Prohibition dictionary and glossary is a guide to terms and organizations related to National Prohibition (1920-1933) in the U.S. It does not list people. Alcohol Alcohol refers to ethyl alcohol or ethanol, the type found in alcohol beverages. It is also commonly used to refer to alcohol   beverage in general. The word alcohol …

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Voluntary Committee of Lawyers: Promoted Legal Change

Voluntary Committee of Lawyers

There have been two organizations called the Voluntary Committee of Lawyers. I. The First A group of highly influential lawyers formed the first Voluntary Committee of Lawyers (VCL) in 1927. Its goal was to promote Repeal of National Prohibition (1920-1933).  Joseph H. Choate, Jr. headed the group. Its corporate charter stated three things. The Eighteenth Amendment …

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